Moon Administration's North Korea Policy in the 'Biden Era'... Vision for a 'Clinton Third Term'

Expectations to Reproduce 'Sunshine Policy' Achievements During South Korea-US Democratic Governments... Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha Holds ROK-US Foreign Ministers' Meeting with Secretary Pompeo

[Asia Economy reporters Jungmin Ryu, Chulyoung Lim, Dongpyo Kim] Kang Kyung-wha, Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Korea, who is visiting the United States, held a South Korea-US foreign ministers' meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on the 9th (local time) and agreed to closely cooperate to maintain stability on the Korean Peninsula.

The Moon Jae-in administration is focusing on a strategy that simultaneously prepares for the present and future by maintaining the "cooperation bond" during the Donald Trump administration while expanding contact with the new Joe Biden administration.

In particular, President Moon Jae-in emphasized a firm commitment to advancing the Korean Peninsula peace process, and the Ministry of Unification also revealed plans to recreate the good memories of the "Bill Clinton administration," which advanced inter-Korean relations based on the "Sunshine Policy."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The fact that Minister Kang met with Secretary Pompeo during the sensitive period immediately after the US presidential election aligns with the Moon administration's recognition that there should be no gap in the South Korea-US alliance under any circumstances.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister Kang held a foreign ministers' meeting with Secretary Pompeo in Washington DC on the day, combined with a luncheon, and exchanged views on issues related to the Korean Peninsula. This face-to-face meeting between the two ministers was the first in about nine months since February. Both agreed to continue efforts to advance the Korean Peninsula peace process and to maintain communication between diplomatic authorities.

Secretary Pompeo posted on Twitter, "Today, I had a good meeting with Minister Kang and discussed coordination measures related to maintaining peace on the Korean Peninsula. The continued strength of the South Korea-US alliance is important to the Indo-Pacific region and the world." The two ministers also exchanged views on the election of the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and agreed to continue related consultations.

Minister Kang is visiting the US at the invitation of Secretary Pompeo and may also meet with figures from the Biden transition team. A notable point is that the Moon administration aims to shape the Biden administration's North Korea policy direction not as an "Obama third term" but as a "Clinton third term." President Moon's recalling memories from the times when both South Korea and the US were governed by the Democratic Party is not unrelated to this.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 9th, at the Blue House senior secretaries and advisors meeting, President Moon said, "The US Democratic government has experience of close cooperation and collaboration with South Korea's Democratic government on the peace process," and emphasized, "We will ensure that there is no gap in strengthening the South Korea-US alliance and advancing the Korean Peninsula peace process."

A senior official from the Ministry of Unification explained, "There was a difference in character between the Lee Myung-bak administration and the Obama administration," and added, "On the other hand, President-elect Biden is a strong supporter of former President Kim Dae-jung's (DJ) Sunshine Policy and sincerely respected DJ."

The official forecasted, "There are expectations that North Korea-US relations during the Biden administration might revert to the Obama third term, that is, strategic patience, but rather it could approach as a Clinton third term."

Meanwhile, the 2000 "North Korea-US Joint Communique" is considered a representative achievement of the Clinton second term administration. At that time, US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Jo Myong-rok, First Vice Chairman of the North Korean National Defense Commission, announced the North Korea-US Joint Communique, agreeing to abandon mutual hostility, expand economic exchanges and cooperation, and strive to establish a peace regime.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.